Tickets for the 66th Senior PGA Championship go on sale

LIGONIER, PENNSYLVANIA - The legends of golf return to Western Pennsylvania to compete in the most historic and prestigious Major Championship in senior golf. The PGA of America is proud to host The 66th Senior PGA Championship at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania to be held May 23 - 29, 2005. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Fuzzy Zoeller, Craig Stadler, Peter Jacobson and 2005 Champions Tour rookies Greg Norman and Curtis Strange are among the 156 players eligible to compete for the coveted Alfred S. Bourne Trophy.

The 66th Senior PGA Championship is a 7-day celebration. Practice Rounds are open to the public, begin on Monday, May 23rd and continue to Wednesday, May 25th. Players fine-tune their games, familiarize themselves with Laurel Valley and interact with the fans. The competition begins on Thursday, May 26th with a 156-player field. Thursday also marks the start of more than 14 hours of live NBC and ESPN television coverage. After Friday's rounds are completed the field is cut to the low 70 scorers and ties. Those competitors that make the cut continue playing on Saturday and Sunday for a chance to win a Major Championship title and the winner's share of the more than $2,000,000 purse.

Tickets for the Major Championship go on sale Wednesday, June 30, 2004. Weekly Passes and Daily Tickets will be available and range in price from $10 for a Daily Practice Round Ticket to $175 for a Weekly Palmer Pavilion Pass. Discount pricing is available on Tickets and Passes purchased before January 1, 2005.

In an effort to encourage more youths to become involved in the game of the golf The PGA of America is offering free admission to people aged 17 years and younger with a ticketed adult. In addition free parking is available. A family of 4 may enjoy a full day of world-class golf for as little as $20.

Volunteers are critical to the operation of The 66th Senior PGA Championship. Volunteers assist in everything from scoring to marshaling to player relations. Individuals interested in volunteering may call the Championship Office at 724 238-4400, or visit www.seniorpga2005.com

Tickets for the 66th Senior PGA Championship may be purchased via telephone by dialing 800-PGA-GOLF (800-742-4653), or on the web at www.seniorpga2005.com.

Laurel Valley Golf Club
Set in Western Pennsylvania's breathtaking Laurel Highlands, Laurel Valley Golf Club spans 260 glorious acres nestled between Laurel Ridge and Chestnut Ridge Mountains. Here, in this spectacular setting, Laurel Valley has realized the dream of its founders to become an ideal golf club, a course of unmatched strength and impeccable beauty whose intricate challenges are matched only by the timeless setting. With golf legend Arnold Palmer at the helm, Laurel Valley became nationally ranked, attracting the 1965 PGA Championship, 1975 Ryder Cup Matches and 1989 U.S. Senior Open.

The PGA of America
The PGA of America is the largest working sports organization in the world, comprised of more than 28,000 men and women dedicated to growing the game of golf. Founded in 1916, The PGA of America conducts four professional golf events: the Ryder Cup Matches, The PGA Championship, The Senior PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. PGA Professionals, who expert instructors, skilled business people and community leaders, are the backbone of The PGA of America, and ambassadors of the game to the nation's more than 25 million golfers. The PGA of America strives to make the game more accessible in many disadvantaged communities. More than 500,000 youths each year discover the game thanks to The PGA of America's programs such as Kids on Course, Golf in Schools and First Swing.